The City of Windhoek finds itself embroiled in a web of financial complexities, encompassing a loan default conundrum, a public-private partnership (PPP) scandal, and the revelation of a forged invoice linked to double-dipping.
The intricate interplay of these events has exposed the city to scrutiny over financial transparency, contractual compliance, and ethical governance.
The unfolding drama was unveiled during a recent council meeting by the Affirmative Repositioning Leader and former Mayor, Job Amupanda, when he presented documents pointing to possible corruption within the city.
Amupanda's revelations cast a glaring spotlight on the city's financial dealings, demanding answers about its accountability in these intricate financial matters.
The saga began with a series of letters dated August 24, 2023, exchanged between Ariya Bridge Trust Fund, Champac Investments, and various stakeholders.
The letters brought to light a loan default crisis involving two private entities, Ariya Bridge Trust Fund and Champac Investments.
The loan, intended for the ambitious Kleine Kuppe Extension 1, Phase 2B project, was mired in delays and non-compliance with contractual agreements.
Ariya Bridge Trust Fund, through Nakamhela Attorneys, is demanding the full repayment of N$10 million from the City of Windhoek.
This demand raised questions and activated a guarantee due to Champac Investments' failure to repay the loan.
Allegations of breach of contractual clauses and questionable transactions added a layer of complexity to the situation.
The heart of the unfolding scandal centres around a public-private partnership agreement involving the City of Windhoek and certain briefcase companies, suspected to be conduits for dubious transactions.
The connection between the loan default and the PPP scandal began to emerge, indirectly implicating the City of Windhoek due to its commitments in the PPP Development Agreement with Champac Investments.
The city pledged to cover Champac's expenses and loans tied to the project.
These documents revealed the presence of forged invoices and demanded immediate payments.
In response, the council took swift action, suspending the ongoing PPP land agreement.
The matter has since been referred back to the management committee for a thorough investigation.